Comments on: The Cubs are not happy with an unauthorized mascothttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/
Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball.Wed, 04 Mar 2015 01:04:34 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: jasonin46304http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-596409
Tue, 15 Oct 2013 12:58:30 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-596409Actually…years ago a dentist gave Ronnie a brand new full set of teeth..something that would not have been given to an everyday fan hanging out. Ronnie is in the same boat as this billie. Ronnie poses for pictures wears the logo and everything else…he might not take tips, but he makes money big time from his wearing the Cubs uniform and yelling like a moron. Ronnie also does appearances… AND has a documentary out that he is profiting from woolife dot com .
]]>By: gloccamorrahttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533642
Sat, 20 Jul 2013 00:21:27 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533642BTW, check out how Ted Giannoulas, the “Famous Chicken” got started.
]]>By: gloccamorrahttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533641
Sat, 20 Jul 2013 00:19:24 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533641“Why don’t they just hire him, and then they have control over everything?”

Then when they replace him, he’ll file a wrongful termination suit, and claim ownership of the character, seeking royalties going back years, and become a celebrity, guest-hosting Saturday Night Live, using skits to skewer the Cubs’ front office. Snowball rolling downhill, and all that.

]]>By: jcmeyer10http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533572
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 21:01:10 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533572Haha yah, thank you. I was trying to make a joke. Obviously I’m not one of them since I don’t know what they are called…

*Checks to see if you are still looking at me*

]]>By: ptfuhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533543
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 20:17:23 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533543The video said he gets $400 in tips on a good day. Assuming he averages $250/day (I pulled that number from thin air), then he’s getting about $20,000 in tips over the 81 home games. Subtract $4,000 for a new costume–he replaces it annually–and that’s $16,000 per year. That’s nothing to the Cubs. Why don’t they just hire him, and then they have control over everything?
]]>By: derklempnerhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533532
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 20:01:16 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533532The Cubs have in-house counsel. It was a two-person team when I worked there.
]]>By: derklempnerhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533531
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 20:00:14 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533531To my knowledge, nobody gives Ronnie any attention, either. Other than annoyance or contempt at his constant noise-making, that is..
]]>By: derklempnerhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533527
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:58:18 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533527mybrunoblog, the city of Chicago already has a law stating that street performers must have a license to perform. It’s not expensive (less than $100, if memory serves me correctly), and chances are that Billy already has one if he’s doing everything else by the books.

But you raise a good point.

]]>By: Alex Khttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533512
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:26:12 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533512To my knowledge no one gives Ronnie tips.
]]>By: onbucky96http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533497
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:08:06 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533497Fuzzies? I think you meant Furries…Furry night at Wrigley, keep your kids at home.
]]>By: paperlionshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533495
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:05:34 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533495He’s not on their property though. He’s on the sidewalk, which is public right-of-way. If he was on it, obviously they would have him arrested for trespassing.

All sorts of businesses use sports imagery to make money, apparel, decorations. If he wants to act like an ass and get his picture taken with fans and makes a few buck, who the fuck cares?

He is not any sort of liability to the the Cubs as he is not affiliated with them in any way. The fact that someone may think he is affiliated is irrelevant, because that assumption has no bearing on liability.

]]>By: mybrunobloghttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533471
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:33:59 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533471The letter is only a page or two. The other 98 pages contain the actual laws/statutes that he is violating and probably include relevant case law as examples.
]]>By: mybrunobloghttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533469
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:30:42 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533469I doubt the ACLU gets involved but I wouldn’t be surprised by a new city ordinance outlawing mascots from working within 5 blocks of a pro sports teams venues. Either that or an ordinance requiring them to be licensed and charge them $2500 or $5000 for a “vendor” license complete with background check and permit.
]]>By: nothanksimdriving123http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533458
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 18:15:00 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533458And it has the same distinct taste as sky blue waters, but with bubbles.
]]>By: whealman2013http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533445
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:59:53 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533445Seems to me that the Flubs should stick to baseball and trying to field a winning team, not harassing some guy who is within his rights to do what he is doing; i.e., not on Cubs property, legally purchasing the costume and, entertaining the fans who happen to love it! The way he handled the suit from the front office is classic. I can not say in this forum what I would have used the 125 pages of legal high jingo for.
]]>By: qcubed3http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533433
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 17:43:25 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533433I think everyone is missing the point here: there was a 100+ page letter written to this guy. A 100+ page letter!? How is that even possible? If I were the cubs executives, I would be far more upset that my lawyers wasted this much time on this matter. And, if they hired outside counsel to write this letter, that it cost me that much money.
]]>By: jcmeyer10http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533375
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 16:42:59 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533375Next thing you know the ACLU and Fuzzies are coming to his defense.
]]>By: baseballici0ushttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533350
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 16:21:09 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533350Seriously, do the Cubs not remember last time they messed with a mascot/pet? I dunno, a certain Billy Goat?
]]>By: anthonyvernahttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533331
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 15:59:36 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533331And drepi wins. When you are making money with it, then trademark rights come into play.

Now, as for a bar or restaurant where the waiters and waitresses may wear apparel, that’s different, unless that apparel is being used in promotions and advertisements of the establishment.

This is about a guy who is impersonating the organizations mascot, on their own property, taking photos with people (who may or may not know he doesn’t work for the cubs) and even taking money from people in the form of tips.

If he were to go ape nuts one day and hurt someone….you know very well that the organization would get sued. This guy is liability problem for the them. He needs to go down the road with his tip jar.

]]>By: chiadamhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533268
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:57:31 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533268He should change his name to “Billy No-Fun DBag” and wait for Epstein to sue him for copyright violations.
]]>By: El Bravohttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533242
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:41:31 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533242“unabated Mascot Activities” is better than “masturbating Mascot Activities” at least.
]]>By: albertmnhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533219
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:24:20 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533219I would think they might be able to limit him within a certain distance to the stadium, at most, but kind of difficult to just stop him from wearing what he wants to wear. Although, if he is representing himself as an employee of the team in any way, there may be an issue. But, those are both just guesses, as I am not a lawyer nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
]]>By: jcmeyer10http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533201
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 14:05:53 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533201Yah, it’s one of those things where the outside of Chicagoans see the Cubs trying to shut down a lovable mascot when in reality, they wouldn’t shut something down they felt comfortable with.
]]>By: kopyhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533195
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 13:58:41 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533195I know it’s Friday but it’s not even 9 AM yet and you’re torturing me.
]]>By: paperlionshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533194
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 13:57:54 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533194I don’t think the Lawyer has any point. Wearing licensed apparel is not copyright infringement. Making and selling it is. Wearing licensed apparel while working or begging is also not a violation of any ownership rights the Cubs may have. For example, if a bar around the corner buys Cubs jerseys to use as “uniforms” for their staff, that is not a violation of any “rights” the Cubs may own. If the bar made the Jerseys, perhaps, but if you buy the stuff, you can wear it doing pretty much anything you want to.
]]>By: heyblueyoustinkhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/the-cubs-are-not-happy-with-an-unauthorized-mascot/comment-page-1/#comment-533189
Fri, 19 Jul 2013 13:54:52 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=487225#comment-533189Add another 100 years to the curse.
]]>